Just like a car needs gasoline, a print cartridge needs toner or ink. Developers of modern printers strive to prevent such a situation when the printer continues to print, but the text of the required quality is not obtained on paper. What should you do if the cartridge runs out? You can go to the store and buy a new one for the full price, order it online, or consider cheaper options. However, these “less expensive options” may cause serious problems with your equipment. Read more about the topic below.
5 Varieties Of Cartridges Available On The Market
Printer consumables are divided into several types:
- Original cartridges are produced by the manufacturer of printers. Along with brand-new printers, original demo cartridges are frequently sold, which have a smaller supply of ink. To replace them, you have to buy the original alternatives, they are already fully charged and allow you to print numerous copies in good quality;
- Licensed cartridges are produced by another company, but under the official license of the manufacturer;
- Compatible cartridges are manufactured by third parties. These companies claim that the quality of their compatibles is as good as the original alternatives. You can find out the price for the compatible cartridges on Smart Ink;
- Refilled cartridges are consumables that have run out, then been sent to the refilling with ink (toner), and returned to the printer. Sometimes such cartridges are subject to repair (restoration to working condition), after which they are refilled and sold;
- Fake cartridges – there is nothing to say about them. However, it is not always easy to recognize a fake.
Now you know the main options available on the market, so it is time to consider the issues associated with the purchase of non-original printer consumables.
What Savings On Cartridge Replacement Can Lead To?
Now let’s consider what a printer user may face if he wants to save on replacing cartridges. First, you can buy cartridges from third-party manufacturers that make outwardly bad copies of the original cartridges. But then there is no guarantee that the “foreign” manufacturer will follow the rules to make cartridges more reliable and durable. Such a more durable cartridge from a mechanical point of view may last longer than the original one, but in reality, it will not last long, as it will also quickly run out of consumables. And during its short life, such a cartridge can wear out the printer mechanism faster.
In addition, the quality of consumables in a non-original cartridge may be worse (the ink may be less liquid, the powder may bake worse, etc.), which will also affect the wear of the printer’s mechanisms. It turns out that if you buy such a cartridge, then the user, without knowing it, consumes the printer’s resources faster, which can lead to its failure.
Cartridges of modern printers are not just containers for storing consumables (ink, powder, etc.). These are full-fledged printer devices that perform many functions. Accordingly, simply replacing consumables is a risky operation that does not guarantee the longevity of the printer. So, before choosing an alternative to the OEM product, check the manufacturer for such details to be sure that you will get the best deal for your device:
- ISO Certificate;
- Money-Back guarantee;
- 24/7 Customer support.
So, keep this information in your head, and enjoy the top-quality printing.
